Photoluminescent materials to increase Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)

In agriculture, the use of solar energy is limited because part of the spectrum is not photosynthetically active, and although photoluminescent materials can improve crop yields, current solutions are scarce and depend on rare earths, with cost and sustainability issues.

To overcome these limitations, researchers from the Instituto de Materiales Avanzados (INAM) of the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) have developed an alternative based on nanostructured materials that enables spectral conversion without the use of rare earths.

The developed compounds absorb ultraviolet radiation and re-emit it in the visible range, with each compound adjusted to the optimal wavelengths required by different crops. The resulting nanoparticles can be incorporated through adhesive layers between plastic sheets or directly into plastic granules. Both approaches make it possible to manufacture greenhouse panels with added value thanks to improved spectral management.

The technology is in the research phase, with different wavelength options to demonstrate agricultural applications, and the next step is to scale up nanoparticle production for integration into greenhouse materials.

Advantages:

• High conversion efficiency without the use of rare earths.
• Spectrum adjustment according to the needs of each crop.
• Can be integrated into plastic manufacturing processes as a low-cost alternative to glass-based systems.
• Library of compounds adaptable to different agricultural applications.
• Potential improvement in crop yields through optimized light conversion.

The represented institution is seeking a collaboration leading to potential licensees or partners, as well as validation of the commercial interest of the technology.

Institution: Instituto de Materiales Avanzados (INAM), Universitat Jaume I (UJI) 

TRL: 3-4

Funding: The technology is protected by a patent (WO2023233062A1) published on December 7, 2023.

Contact: Nuria Bas / nuria@viromii.com